South Africa v Pakistan talking points: Duanne Olivier's second fiver rattles visitors

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  • Olivier completed his second fiver in the match.

    A second day which was almost a carbon copy of the first in the opening Test between South Africa and Pakistan saw the hosts inch ahead at the Centurion.

    15 wickets had fallen on day one and a further 15 fell on Thursday as the hosts seized the initiative in the Boxing Day fixture. South Africa took a 42-run lead in the first innings as they posted 223, before bowling out Pakistan for 190 in their second innings.

    With the Proteas now requiring 149 to win the Test, we take a look at the key takeaways from day two at the Centurion.

    AMIR AND AFRIDI CUT DOWN PROTEAS LEAD

    With South Africa starting the day at 127-5, Pakistan had a huge task in front of themselves to stop the hosts taking a substantial first-innings lead. In the end, the tourists did well to restrict the first-innings to only 42 runs with Mohammad Amir and Shaheen Afridi sharing eight wickets between themselves.

    They were initially frustrated by night watchman Dale Steyn who played a handy 23-run cameo, before he became Amir’s third dismissal of the innings.

    Teenager Afridi then removed half-centurion Temba Bavuma to give the visitors an opening into South Africa’s tail. Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock helped the hosts overhaul Pakistan’s total of 181 with a quick-fire 45, before Amir returned to pick up his fourth wicket.

    Afridi then finished off the task by removing Kagiso Rabada to complete an excellent outing in his first appearance on South African soil. His efforts, along with Amir’s, ensured that the Test remained in the balance at the end of the first innings of both sides.

    A fine effort from young Shaheen Afridi.

    A fine effort from young Shaheen Afridi.

    IMAM AND MASOOD SHINE AS EXPERIENCED HEADS DISAPPOINT FOR PAKISTAN

    Pakistan’s second innings almost mirrored their first, with South Africa’s pacers coming back strongly on day two at the Centurion.

    Poor shot-making cost the visitors dear with the likes of Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed guilty of some atrocious cricket.

    Azhar fell to an ill-attempted pull shot off Duanne Olivier. Shafiq and Sarfraz both succumbed to loose drives while chasing deliveries well away from their bodies.

    It was opener Imam-ul-Haq and Shan Masood who held the fort for Pakistan and showed the way for some of the more experienced batsmen. The former’s calm and collected approach paid dividends as he struck a vital half-century at the top to wipe out South Africa’s first innings lead.

    The latter was a picture of concentration at the crease as wickets kept tumbling around him and brought up a fine half-century under pressure. Masood persevered and then was forced to go on the attack as he ran out of partners. He was the penultimate batsman to fall, but his knock endured Pakistan have at least some runs to play with in the final innings.

    Masood top-scored for Pakistan with 65.

    Masood top-scored for Pakistan with 65.

    OLIVIER RATTLES PAKISTAN WITH SECOND FIVER

    Despite featuring in the match only because of an injury to Vernon Philander, Duanne Olivier had stolen the thunder in the first innings with a career-best six-wicket haul.

    The Proteas seamer has used the short ball to good effect in the first innings to end with figures of 6-37 and he repeated that trick in the second to bring up a 10-wicket match haul.

    After Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman had given the visitors an excellent start in the second innings, Olivier provided the hosts some respite by removing the latter just before the stroke of tea. Post the tea break, Olivier sent Imam and Azhar packing in consecutive overs before returning towards the end to clean the tail.

    It was the second fiver in the Test for Olivier with three of the wickets coming from bouncers. It took his match tally to 11 and completed an extraordinary outing for the seamer who was very much considered a reserve bowler for the hosts heading into the series.

    A sensational Test for the 'reserve' Proteas pacer.

    A sensational Test for the ‘reserve’ Proteas pacer.

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